2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 10,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

My 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy has experienced transmission problems since it was new and currently has approximately 20,000 miles. I brought it to the dealership approximately three to four times for these concerns, but I was told they could not find a problem or any diagnostic codes. Recently, while driving on the highway, the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

I own a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy AWD equipped with the 2.5L turbo engine and 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. At approximately 39,900 miles, the check-engine light illuminated. Hyundai Bluelink diagnostics reported powertrain/TCU diagnostic trouble code P1C2D03, identified as a high-pressure electric oil pump motor position…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Parts named most: Automatic emergency braking (22), Warnings (15), Adaptive cruise control (9).

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

While driving on the interstate, while using cruise control, my vehicle braked and decelerated, uncontrollably. The collision alert alarm went off. I forced the vehicle to accelerate and it stopped the braking and the collision alarm ceased. I took the car to the dealer and they spend the day checking it over. They said they couldn’t get…Owner complaint, filed 2026

It is not just this vehicle; it is ALL vehicles with adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. When sensors get snow or debris on them, they shut the vehicles down without warning. I have had 3 times this winter when the roads were fine, cruise control set, and because another vehicle was kicking up road salt, the vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 2,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was driving, and the SUV all of a sudden lost power. I was trying to press harder on the gas pedal to keep up with the traffic, but the SUV was stalling. The SUV would not move, and as I kept trying to press on the gas pedal, a roaring noise like something was trying to turn but the engine kept trying to move the car. It felt like…Owner complaint, filed 2026

I am submitting this complaint regarding a safety-related incident involving my 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe on February 14, 2026. While driving, the vehicle suddenly began to overheat, creating an immediate safety hazard. I was close to my home and was able to return there safely, but once parked, I observed coolant leaking from the front of…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the horn was inoperable and inaudible when pressed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 31,000 miles

Needed to use horn in an emergency situation and that's when I found out my horn no longer works. 20,000 miles on 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe.Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

No crash, injury, warning lamp, message, or loss-of-braking event occurred. The issue involves the brake hydraulic system and the fluid specified for my 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy. Hyundai’s owner specification requires SAE J1704 DOT-4 LV / ISO 4925 Class 6 brake fluid. During a brake-fluid exchange, an authorized Hyundai dealer…Owner complaint, filed 2026

My dealership has reground the rotors on my car twice. Now with less than 40,000 mileson the car the brakes need ground again. The issue with the brakes is it causes the front end of the car to shake when the brakes are applied. This could lead to loss of control on down hill stops in slippery conditions.Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the RPM would be elevated while the vehicle was idling. The failure recurred while the brake pedal was depressed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred approximately 3-4 times within 30 days. The failure recurred approximately 15 times within 6…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 12 miles

While traveling on [XXX] from [XXX] to [XXX] XXX, I initiated the adaptive cruise control. While engaged, with no other vehicles or other impediments on the roadway in front of me, the emergency braking system engaged and attempted to stop the vehicle. The first time this happened, I pressed the accelerator which disengaged the braking…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while there was snow on the roof of the vehicle, the windshield wipers failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer because there was space between the hood and the windshield where the snow was collected, causing the windshield wipers to fail to…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 35,000 miles

On Saturday Morning (August 9th), I was driving this car with my family on I-495 heading to the shopping mall. The SunRoof glass broke suddenly without any impact from outside. I was so alarmed and exited the road and checked it. There was a crack in the front side glass. I drove back home and found that they had exploded and scattered.…Owner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

While driving on the interstate at 70mph the vehicle’s fuel injectors failed causing the vehicle to lose power suddenly.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Fuel injectors are bad. The car misfires, I smell gas, runs rough. They fixed one the second week of December 2025. I had the same symptoms when my light came on again on December 23,2025, they said they couldn’t find anything and gave me the car back. On January 3, my engine light came on again, I had warnings sent to my email and phone…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Parts named most: Body (5).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

Driving on sunny day, the fixed roof glass located between the windshield and sunroof exploded across the entire width of the glass insert with a very distracting noise.Owner complaint, filed 2026

The sunroof glass violently shattered/exploded while driving the vehicle. The manufacturer claims the window meets current standards and is not defective. The curtain or fabric cover was extended covering the glass panel otherwise the driver would have been covered with broken glass.Owner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

I have been fighting this issue now for 2 years, vibration while driving interstate speeds, especially right rear seat. I have had tires replaced twice trying to fix balance issue only to find out that one rim will not road force balance correctly, even with tire matched it only reduced road force balance to 20lbs (30lbs with out match).…Owner complaint, filed 2026

I was driving at around 11 a.m. on a city road at about 30 miles per hour when front passenger tire suddenly popped and car began to swerve almost colliding with vehicle in adjacent lane. The TPMS alert showed up on dashboard after the tire popped. There were no potholes or any objects that the car hit. The car along with tires had been…Owner complaint, filed 2024

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

Shuddering Issue with Current Vehicle: - Problem: Progressive shuddering during take-off, accelerating, slowing down, and braking uphill.Owner complaint, filed 2024

May 5th 2023 my car was broken in to.The back passenger window was broken out and the steering column was tour out .The car was undrivable. The car was towed May 18th to Nalley Hyundai.I just got my car back today Aug 11. I understand Hyundai is suing TikTok I was given a number.She said when they go to court.When .Owner complaint, filed 2023

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was in a car accident on September 30, 2025. I was hit from behind by a dump truck and was pushed into the car in front of me. My seat belt in my Santa Fe did not tighten, and my head hit the steering wheel. There is something wrong with the seat belts. I was going to take it to the dealer to check after repairs, but my car is a total…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The seat belt in the middle seat of the second row did not work. And it was not fastened. So when braking, my child was thrown toward the center console. I think it's a big safety issue if the seat belt doesn't work.Owner complaint, filed 2024

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was recently involved in a front side swipe accident where a person ran a red light and hit me while I was passing through an intersection. The impact was all in the front of the vehicle where the air bag had deployed. The air bag caught on fire within seconds after it had deployed. Thankfully I was conscious to where I was able to…Owner complaint, filed 2023

I had adaptive cruise control on and debris hit my windshield and I went into the rumble strip and eventually into the guard rail where the car essentially pingponged from there until it eventually stopped when the metal hit the front. It appears the emergency brake did not activate and the lane keep did not activate. My air bags did not…Owner complaint, filed 2025